Delwin Jones in critical condition

Published 10:07 am, Monday, September 1, 2014

Lubbock Republican Delwin Jones, one of six candidates running for state senator from District 28, is hospitalized in critical condition at Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock.

Hospital officials confirm that Jones, 90, was critically ill when admitted Saturday. He remained in critical condition Monday, however a hospital spokesperson declined to discuss the nature of his illness, citing privacy laws.

Early voting in the race for the Texas Senate seat vacated by new Texas Tech Chancellor Robert Duncan ends Friday. Election Day is Tuesday, Sept. 9.

In addition to Jones, other candidates for the seat are Republicans Jodey Arrington and Charles Perry, both of Lubbock, and E.M. Garza of Wolfforth; Libertarian Kerry McKennon of Petersburg and Democrat Greg Wortham of Sweetwater.

On Sunday, Arrington on his Facebook page posted, “Please keep Delwin in our thoughts and prayers. I have really enjoyed getting to know Delwin better on the campaign trail. He’s a good guy and a true advocate for West Texas.”

Perry followed suit Monday, posting, “Please keep Delwin Jones and his family in your prayers.”

Wortham, according to media reports, offered prays for Jones on Sunday evening.

“My thoughts and prayers are with Delwin Jones in this challenging time,” he wrote on Twitter, according to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. “Godspeed for a prompt recovery.”

Jones is a former state representative, serving from 1965 to 1973 when he was defeated by James E. “Pete” Laney (D-Hale Center) and from 1989-2011 when he lost to Perry.